Printing-press



J. E. LEE.

PRINTING PRESS.

ATION Fl Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

e ssssssssssss 1 [J l jay/6 w James fa arlee J. E. LEE.

PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED NOV- '22, 1919.

1,367,193. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

' 6 SHEETSSHEET 2- /nven/or LE. USE. PRJNYING PRESS APPLICATION mm) -ov.';z2. 19:9.

Patented Feb. 1,1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f W M w Ji J. E. LEE. PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION FILED NOV, 22, l9l9.

1,367,193. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

6 SHEETS -SHEET 4.

[tl: {'f fis I 3 39 l qi'i- 36 fi 34 40 36 A: 2 I g r I 39 i 32 U 3/ 1. E LEE. PRINTING Pmss; AP Ff LJCATIO'N FILED Nbv.22.191s. 1 1,367,193. Patented Feb. 1,1921.

Aime/7221' I Jgme; foyarlee J. E. LEE.

PRINTING PRESS. APPLICATION HLEp NOV. 22, 1919.

ww y w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PRINTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed. November 22, 1919. Serial No. 339,910.

T all 107mm it may conceive.

Be it known that l, JAMns EDGAR Len, a citizen of the United States of America, re siding at Grand Haven, in the county of Ottawa and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements and perfections in a printing press of the type shown by the patent to Stonemetz, No. 884,302, issued April. 7, 1908. The in vention particularly concerned with improvements in the inking mechanism through which ink is suppliedto and dis tributed over the type carried by the reciprocating table of the press. One particular feature of improvement in connection with the inking mechanism is directed to novel means for increasing or diminishing the supply of ink to be spread on the type, said 'Ineans being; very quickly and easily operated ing press. Still further objects in conned w tion with the inking mechamsinare to provide means for holding the distributing and vibrator rollers and for quickly and easily adjusting the same toward each other and i V e hand end of the structure shown 1n Fig. 10.

toward or away from the type, together with 1; a mechanism for more solidly and suhstantially holding the reciprocatingtable which carries the printing form against any vibrating movements which would makethe printing defective. A. still further ohjcct of the inven 'onis to provide a novel'and sine ple means for at iching a covering on the cylinder of the press and particularly in the method of assembling the devices further object of the inventionis to provide means for holding the fingers which take the printed sheets and carry them tothe delivery able of the press against movement while the machineis running, which at tlmes is desirable. Various other ohj cots and pur; poses than those specifically enumerated will appear fully and in detail as understanding of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanylng drawlngs, 1n whlch;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of theprcss' and set from in front of the printtaken from one side and slightly in front thereof.

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view taken looking at the opposite side and from in the rear.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the press at the front portion thereof and looking to the rear illustrating the mechanism for operation of the reciprocating table.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section in side oleration taken lengthwise of the table and showing the mechanism for reciprocating the same.

Fig. l is a fragmentary side view of the mechanism for adjusting the ink supply to the inking mechanism of the press.

Fig. l is a section at the end of the ink ing roller against which the ink directly on gages, the roller and thesprocket and ratchet wheels thereon, heing shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the setting mech' anism for the ink supply.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of two of the ad- Ajustahle roller carrying devices.

Figs. 8 and 9 are end elevations thereof, the supporting frame means therefor being shown in section.

Fig. '10 is an elevation showing the means for supporting the vibrator roller and asso ciated distributing rollers; and

Fig. 11 is a view looking against the left Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different views of the drawmgs.

in the construction of the press a supporting frame is provided lniringsides 1 which are made up of aplurality of horizontal supporting frinne. rollers 5 beinginterposed hetweenthis table and horizontal bed pieces on. which the rollers more. The table is carried backand forth below the cylinder 6 which is rotatably mounted above the table.

A short distance beyond the side of the frame 1. the cylinder shaft is equipped with a gear 7 which is innresh with a near 8. this gear together w1th a smaller gear orpinion members two the ends of its movement and start it back 'metz patent.

9., being secured at the end of a shaft 10 which is mounted on the supporting frame below the cylinder. Pinion 9 is in mesh with a gear 11 which is secured at the end of a transverse shaft 12 and which extends from one side 1 to the other of the supporting frame. Two gears 13 and 14 are mounted on the shaft 10 and are adapted to rotate in opposite directions at equal speeds using the same mechanism as in the Stonemetz patent heretofore noted. A grooved cam 15 on the shaft 12 serves to turn a frame 16 back'and forth about its pivotal mounting shown in Fig. 3, this lever at its upper end slidably engaging with a movably mounted member 17 which is mounted in the under side of the table 4 and to which a rack 18 is attached so that with the rotation of shaft 12 the rack 18 alternately engages with the 20.

two gears 13 and 14. As a. consequence the table 4 isre'clprocated. This is not a new L v a movement as it is fully shown in the btone- As the table moves with considcrable speed it is necessary that a means he used to gradually bring it to a stop at in the opposite direction. To this end short racks 19 are fixed to the under side and at each end of the table 4 with which a gear sector 20 is adapted to alternately engage. An arm 21 is pivot-ally mounted at 22 at its lower end between the ends of a supporting beam 23 carried by the cross members 2 and 3 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 A link 21 connects the upper end of the arm 21 with gear 14 at a distance from the center of the gear. The gear sector 20 is made at the upper end of an arm 24 which is loosely mounted on shaft 12. A link 24 connects the up- .per end of arm 21'with the arm 24. lt'is apparent that with the rotation of the gear 14 a reciprocatory movement is given to the link 21 causing the arm 21 to rock back and the connection of link 24*.

forth on its pivot 22 and likewise the arm 24 has a similar rocking movement through The sector 20 engages with the short racks 19 as the table approaches the end'of its movement in either direction, slows the table down gradually and starts it movingin the opposite direction. This movement is also old in the Stonemetz patent. However, the support of the front arm 21 in the present construction is much more solid and substantial and is an insurance against vibration. ofconsiderahle importance in this connection as the teeth of the gear segment and the racks must be timed to engage exactly; otherwise there will be chattering and vibration of the table 4 with a consequent imperfect printing. The beam 23 is of exceptional strength and rigidity, much more so than is necessary for the mere support of the arm 21 and insures against any unde- I sired vibration, and imperfect connection of This is a matter.

.venti on.

A lever 25 extends in front of the press and at its front end has connection with an upwardly extending rod 26 which is attached to one end of a chain 26 used to operate an inking roller as will be hereafter described. Lever 25 is pivotallv 'mmuucd between its ends on a bracket 27 depending from one of the sides 1 of the supporting frame. The lever at its inner end is equipped with a. roller 28 adapted to ride against an eccentric 29 fixed on the shaft 12. The roller is normally kept in contact with the eccentric by a spring 30 connected to the lever and frame as shown in Fig. The lever adjacent its front end passes through a slot 31 made in a member 32 attached to the front end of the frame and in its lowermost position may be placed umlerucath :1 lug which projects into the slot. in which position the roller 28 is raised above the crcentric and is not acted upon by the cocontric at any time in its movements. It is de signed that this lever 23 may be held .lll'ilillsi going above any one of a. plurality of ositions between its uppermost and lorxc; 1st positions shown in Fig. 5. To acconmlieli this a plate 34 is pivotally mounted at one end at on the member 2-52, the edge of the plate being provided with a ccnsccutiw series of notches 36. A. pin 37 is carried at the end of a spring arm 38 secured to the plate 34 and is adapted to enter any one of the series of openings 39 made in the arcshaped portion 40 which is cast integral with the member82. By pulling out on the head of pin 37 so as to disengage the pin from the notch 39 in which it is located. plate ll ma}: be freed for movement.

ment of the front end of the lever and operation of the chain 26. This chain 26 passes over a sprocket wheel 41 and thence downwardly toward the bracket 27 being connected to said bracket by a coiled spring 42 as shown in Fig. 4. be made sufficiently strong that spring 30. heretofore described may be dispensed with. the roller 28 being held against eccentric 29 through spring 42 alone. The sprocket wheel 41 is loosely mounted on the end of This spring 42 may a shaft 43 and alongside of a atchet Wheel 44 which is fixed to said shal't. A. dog 45 is mounted on and moves with the sprocket wheel, being adapted to engage with the ratchet wheel in one direction of movement of the sprocket Wheel. The shaft i3 is at the end oi an inking roller 46 against which the printers ink is placed in a suitable trough 46 and by means of which on its rotation, ink is delivered to various transfer and distributing rollers and thence to the type can ried in the printers form on the table l. llhen the plate 36 is thrown to its extreme position as shown in Fig. 5 with a continuous up and down movement of the lever 25 and a continuous rotation of the sprocket wheel 421. back and forth on the shaft 43, and in one directionoi the movement of the sprocket wheeh the greatest amount of ink distributed. When the lever 25 is placed under the projection 33 there is no movement thereof and no ink distribution. With every restriction of the movement of the lever 25 in an upward direction. caused by bringing the plate 34 more and more into path of movement, the rotation oi? the inking roller is correspondingly decreased with a corresponding decrease in the supply of ink to the type. This is evi dent from the fact that during part of the rotation of the shaft 12 roller 28 will not engage with the cam 29 and there is only a partial downward and upward movement 01'' the lever 25 and a partial movement of the sprocket wheel with every rotation of the shalt12. I

ll ith this construction the supplying oi ink to the type may be very closely controlled and a greater or less amount of ink supplied as desired. If the printing is faint, a little additional movement of the lever 25 given by moving the plate 34 upwardly; it too heavy the plate 34 is moved in the opposits direction with a consequent decrease of ink supply; and because of the large numher of stations in the edge of the plate fi the supply of ink may be controlled very closely. This is a leatureoi great importance in printing as either too great or too little amount of ink is particularly disastrons to good printing. i

ll shaft 4? is mounted alcove and at one end of the receiving table to which the printed sheets are delivered. On this shalt a plurality of fingers 48 are fixed being a opted to take the printed sheet from the cylinder 6 and swing through an arc of ap- 'iroiiimately 180 degrees to deliver the same i to the table. 7 it. sprocket wheel 49 is fixed on one end of the shaft. A sprocket chain 50 has one end attached to a coiled spring M which at its opposite end is connected to the supporting frame of the machine. The opposite end of the chain has connection to the upper end of a rod 52 which at its lower end is pivotally connected to a bent lever 53, said lever being pivotally mounted on the supporting frame of the machine as shown in Fig. 2. The sprocket chain runs over the sprocket wheel. A cam is socured on the end oi? the shaft 12 and serves to operate the lever 53 once with each rotation oi the shaft whereby the fingers L8 a re moved from receiving to delivering pos1- tion and backythe spring 51 being of suflicient strength to normally hold the fingers in one position. If at any time it is not desired that the fingers shall operate, it is necessary merely to insert a pin through one 01 tholinks oi? the chain 50 whereupon the spring will hold the pin against the housing so and stop the spring from exerting its force and shaft d7 cannot turn beyond the point where it is stopped. This is desirable sometimes and the construction shown and described permits this. i

In the ink distribution, use is made of distributing and vibrator rollers which are mounted in front of the printing drum 6. lt is desirable that the distributing rollers may be adjusted toward or away from the type and also adjusted with respect to the vibrator roller. Also that all of the rollers may he removed whenever necessary for cleaning or replacement and that the cost of manufacture oil the brackets for mounting said rollers shall be as small as possible so that one mounting device for all oil. these rollers and also for the distributing rollers at the front end of the machine maybe used on either or both of the frame. The vibrator roller 63 has a projecting shaft (ll at each end which passes through a bushing (5 mounted at the upper end of a bracket 62 which is permanently connected one at each side of the supporting frame. The bracket 62 slotted as indicated at 63 in Fig. 10. extends downwardly alongside the bracket, being equipped at its lower cudwith a spring actuated Eatch which may be moved out wardly by grasping the knob (ill. Normally,

in the positions shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the handle and the bushing are locked against turning movement but by withdraw-- ing the spring pressed lock pin, the handle may he turned through a n are of 186 degrees and the vibrator roller 63 removed from its From the bushing 6+1; a handle supporting hracl-tet. This vibrator roller is adapted to he in contact with two distrilm tive rollers The supporta therefor coinprise posts 67 each at its upperend being provided with an offset elongated extension 67. The posts are mounted on horizontal portions ol the frame 1 at each side of the machine and each rests on a rod 68 threaded at its lower end-through and extending downwardly below said horizontal portion of the frame. On each a nut 69 having a ratchet upper face is secured, the turning of which will thread the rod 68 through the lower flange of the supporting rail and either raise or lower the posts 67, depending on the direction that it is turned. A pin '70 pressed oownwardly by spring 71 engages with the ratchet face of the nut and normall holds the same against accidental movement.

Each of the offset portions 61 at the upper end of posts 67 is longitudinally slotted as "indicated at 72. A roller carrying socket 723 is mounted on said ofiset portion 67, a set screw 74 passing through the slot 72 and threaded through the socket member i The rollers ?5 have projecting shaft portions at each end which seat in sockets same 7 being inclined as shown in to 10 inclusive. By operating the set screw 7 the socket members may be freed for adjustment toward or away from the bracket"? to thus bringthe pressure rollers 75, the

r i lgs. a

75 into proper relation and in contact with the vibrator roller 63 and the vertical adjustment of the said rollers is taken care of by operation of the nuts 69.

The brackets which support the pressure rollersare also used at the tron: end of the machine and in the same way except that theadjusting devices including the threaded rod 68, nut 69 and pin 70 are not used. In all cases, however, it will be noted that the structure of the posts 67 is such that it is not necessary to make two separate patterns for supporting members for the rollers on the right and left hand sides or' the machine. The posts may be rotated about their vertical axes to swing the socket member 73 through an arc of degrees and position the two shaft receiving pockets 76 so as to receive the shafts at the ends of the rollers. This is a feature of construction which is valuable from the standpoint of the manufacturing cost inasmuch as the posts with attached parts may b'emade in duplicate for both the front and rear pressure and distributing rollers and on both sides of the 7 machine and no separate parts are needed to carry the rollers when the machine is not in use.

The constructions described have proven thoroughlypractical and efficient in use over a considerable period of time. The invention is mainly directed to the inking apparatus, and ink distributing features of the press. Not only is there provided means for spreading a greater or lessuuantity of ink over a, form but the ink distribution is taken care of in a particularly efiicient manner. The distributing rollers are easily removed and the vibrator roller which holds the inner distributing rollers down may be quicl'rly removed at any time when the press is not in operation and all of the rollers lifted above the work and held until needed in printing. The rollers may also be realil removed at any time for cleaning when it becomes necessary or for repairing or replacement.

Various changes in minor detail of structure may be resorted to without departing from my invention which is defined in the appended claims and I consider myself ontitled to all modifications falling within the scope of said claims.

I claim:

1 In a printing press, inking mechanism including a rotatably mounted inking roller, a ratchet wheel secured at one end of the roller, a sprocket wheel loosely mounted for rotation alongside of the ratchet wheel, a dog on the sprocket wheel to engage with the ratchet wheel and move the same in one direction or" movement of the sprocket wheel, a chain passing over and engaging with the sprocket wheel, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends, means connecting one end of the chain to the lever, a spring attached to the opposite end of the chain, a shaft. an eccentric on the shaft, a roller at one end of the lever adapted to ride on said ecce11- tric, spring means tending to elevate the opposite end of the lever whereby the lever moves up and down with the rotation of the shaft. and means movable into the upward path of movement of said end of the lever and adjustable to a plurality of dif- Lterent positions whereby the movement of the lever and consequent rotation of the inking roller may be determined, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. in combination, an inking roller, a support therefor, on which the roller is rotatably mounted, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends 011 a support, a shaft, means on the shaft adapted to engage with one end of the lever to move the opposite end oi" the lever in a downward direction, means yieldingly tending to move said opposite end 0| -e lover in an upward direction, means in erposed between said opposite end of the and the inking roller for turning the inking roller during movement of the lever in one direction, and means movable into the path oi upward movement of said end of the lever to limit the extent of movement of the lever and of the rotation of the inking roller, substantially as described.

3. In combination, a supporting frame, a shaft thereon, means to drive the shaft, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on the frame, means interposed between the shaft and one end oi. the lever for moving the opposite end of the lever in one direction, yielding means for moving said opposite end of the lever in the other direction, means adjustably mounted on the supporting frame and movable into the path of movement of said opposite end of the 1:

ver to limit the extent of movement thereof, an inking mechanism, and means for operating the inking mechanism through movements of said lever, the inking mechanism being operated to a greater or less extent,

a lever mounted between its ends on the,

frame, a shaft, means interposed. between the shaft and the rear end of the lever for operating the lever about its pivot in one dlrectlon, yleldlng means connected to and between the lever and supporting frame normally moving the lever in the opposite direction, a member pivotally mounted on the frame and movable into any one of a plurality of positions in the path of movement of the front end of the lever whereby the movement of said lever may be limited, and inking mechanism operated by the move-- ments of the lever, substantially as described.

5. In a printing press, a supportiu frame, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends thereon, means engageable with the r ear end of the lever for moving the same in one direction about its pivot, a member having a slot therein through which the front end of the lever passes, a notched member pivotally mounted on. the first member at one end of the slot and adapted to be moved to a. plurality of positions with respect to said first member and thereby diminish the effective length of the slot through which the front end of the lever may have movement, means normally tending to move the lever against said notched member, and inking mechanism operatively connected with the lever to be operated thereby in proportion to the movement of the, lever, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. In a printing press, a supporting frame, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends thereon, means for periodically moving); the lever about its pivot so as to lower the front end thereof, spring means tending to elevate the front end of the lever, a member attached to and located. at the front end of the support having a vertical slot through which the front end. of the lever passes, a notched plate pivotally mounted on said member at the upper end of the slot, ntleans for adjustably securing said plate in any one of a plurality of positions with the plate passing across the slot so as to limit the upward movement of the lever to a greater or less extent, and an inking mechanism operatively connected with the lever and operable amounts proportionate to the range of movement of the lever, substantially as described.

7. In combination the elements defined in combination in claim 6 and a lug at the lower end of the member extending into the slot and underneath which said lever may ratchet wheel, a dog carried by the sprocket wheel adapted to engage. with the ratchet wheel. and turn the same andthe conneeted roller on movement of the sprocket wheel in one direction, a bracket depending from the frame, a spring connected at one end thereto, a sprocket chain attached to the opposite end of the spring and passing over the sprocket wheel, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends on said bracket, means connecting the opposite end of the sprocket chain with the front end of the lever, a

shaft, means to drive the same, an eccentric on the shaft,'a roller on the rear end of the lever adapted to ride against said eccentric, a member having a vertical slot thereinv .slntfili'w'fitl. at the front part of the frame, the front end of the lever passing through said slot and a notched plate pivotally mounted on said member at the upper end of the slot and. adapted to be turned so as to cross the slot and progressively diminish the effective length for movement of the lever therein with each downward adjustment of the notched member, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. In a printing press, a support includ ing parallel side rails, atable mounted for reciprocation on. the support between said rails, a bracket secured to each rail at each side of the table, one of said brackets being slotted downwardly from its upper end, a bushing located in said slot, a handle de pending from the bushing, a spring pressed locking pin passing through. the lower end of the handle and into the bracket, a vibrator roller located between the brackets and mounted at its ends in, the bushings, and distributing rollers mounted one at each side of and below the vibrator roller and :ulapted to contact with the same and with type rarried in a printers form on the table, substantially as described.

10. In a printing press, a supporting frame including spaced apart horizontal rails, a table mounted for reciprocation between said rails and adapted to carry a printers form, a vibrator roller detachably mounted. on and above the rails and over the table transversely thereof, posts one at each. side of the vibrator roller on each rail, means for adjusting said posts vertically, socket means adjustably mounted at the upper ends of said posts and adjustable toward or away from each other, said socket means carrying distributing rollers, one at each side of and below and in contact with the "ibrator roller, and means to hold the socket means in any position to which adjustechsubstantially as described.

11. In a printing press, a supporting frame including spaced apart horizontal rails, a table mounted for reciprocation between said rails and adapted to carry a printers form, a vibrator roller deta-chably mounted on and above the rails and over the table transversely thereof, posts one at each side of the vibrator-roller on each rail, a rod threaded through the rails against the lower end of each post, a nut having a notched upper surface secured to the lower end of each rod, spring pressed pins, one for each nut carried on the rails and adapted to engage with the notched surfaces of the nuts, socket means adjustably. mounted at the upper ends of said posts and adjustabletoward or away from each other, said socket means carrying distributing rollers, one at each side of-and below and in contact with the vibrator roller, and means to hold the socket means in any position to which adjusted, substantially as described.

12. A supporting member for distributing rollers of printing presses comprising a post formed at its upper end with a lateral offset portion, said portion having a longitudinal slot therein, a socket member located directly above the upper end of the post and formed to support one end of a distributing roller, and a screw passing through the slot and threaded into the lower portion of the socket member to adjustably bind the socket member against the ol'l'set portion of the post, substantially as and for the purposes described.

13. A support for the ends of distributing rollers in printing presses comprising a e lindrical post adapted to be mounted at the sides of a "form carrying table in a printing press, said post at its upper end being formed with an integral ollset portion in which a horizontal slot is made, a socket nnmiber located directly over the upper end of the cylindrical portion of the post and provided in its upper end with a shaft receiving socket located at an angle to the vertiral, and a screw passing through said slot in the offset portion of the post and threaded into the lower part of the socket member, substantially as and for the purposes described.

ii. A. construction containing the ele ments in combination claimed in claim .13. said socket member at its upper end being provided with shaft receiving pockets or sockets located at right angles to the first mentioned socket. substantially as described. in testimony whereof I allix my signatur JAMES EDGAR TEE 

